“The first essential component of social justice is adequate food for all mankind. Food is the moral right of all who are born unto this world.” ~Norman Borlaug (Winner of the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize)
In four years’ time, THANKS to all of your generous food donations, J3T has been able to help the ongoing problem of food insecurity at Real World Job Development. My hope has always been to expand J3T to other JFCS programs and this year, I felt we were ready.
JFCS provides mental health therapy to youth of all ages. In December, I was given a tour of JFCS’s newly renovated Catalina Clinic, a behavioral health clinic that also has a medical clinic and pharmacy on site. This unique integrated clinic, meets all the clients’ health needs in one visit. I asked the Director Mario Lippy if the children arrive hungry or need a snack on their way home. In response to his “YES,” the J3T Snack Pantry was created at Catalina in February 2015.
Below are portions of an email that I received from a child clinician about the impact of the J3T Snack Pantry. It is a testimony to us as a group that we care enough to stop childhood hunger.
“We have used many snack items for group……….they learn to share, take turns, use manners / “magic-words,” and use communication skills to ask for more or express their thoughts / opinions about the snacks they eat………………After school children can better focus on the tasks at hand versus being distracted by their hunger.”
This month’s request:
• cans of fruit and vegetables
• disposable cutlery